Pencil



Aug. 25, 193

H. THORNTON PENCIL Filed June 2a, 1955 fiqoard Zkorntow INVENTOR BY 01%; iz/mnwa I mum- WlTNEES Patented Aug. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFF-ICE 2,052,501 mom Howard Thornton, Cranston, B. I. Application June as, 1935, Serial No. 28,936 1 Claim. (ct zit-6.4a)

The invention relates to a pencil and more especially to an electrically lighted pencil.

, The primary object of the invention is the provision of a pencil of this character, wherein an electric light .is arranged internally thereof so that on the lighting of the pencil it can be used in the dark, the pencil being serviceable to State troopers, autoists or other persons when required to write in darkness, the lead of the pencil being adiustableand the light circuit is regulated by a switch manually controlled.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pencil of this character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and ei'iicient in its operation, strong, durable, and inexpensiveto manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features'of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying'drawing; which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation of a pencil constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-4 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a horizontal or transverse sectional view through the pencil.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail the pencil comprises a barrelbody 5 having an externally threaded end 6 and an opposite internally threaded end 1, respectively. Within this body 5 is separably received a dry cell battery 8 of standard kind while engaged against a seat 8 formed at the internally threaded end 1 is a light reflector l having removably engaged therewith anelectric light bulb H which through contacts I! and I3, respectively, is in electrical connection with the battery 8. The circuit between the battery 8 and the bulb ll having the contacts I! and i3 therein is controlled for the opening and v closing thereof by a. switch having a plunger ll slidably fitted centrally in a coupling II. it being in threaded engagement with and ieles'coped over the threaded end i 0! the body 8. the plunger It being surrounded by a coiled expansion spring II which normally holds theswitch in the electric circuit opera when the switch is closed the bulb in will be lighted or illuminated and this switch is operated in a manner presently described.

Engaged in the internally threaded end I of the body 5. is an externally threaded coupling sleeve II having telescoped thereover and threaded therewith a transparent cap i8 having the outwardly tapered tip it formed with a central bore or guide passage for a writing lead which is adapted to be fed through the tip IS the required distance for writing purposes. The coupling sleeve il holds the reflector Ill against the seat 9 and separably secured in place within the body 5 of the pencil. The transparence of the cap it permits the passage of light from the bulb Ii therethrough so that the pencil may be used in darkness for writing purposes.

Hung within the sleeve i1 by pins 2i centrally of said sleeve is a spring ball clamp 22 into which is detachably engaged the inner end of the lead 20 for the holding of the same in feeding position so that when the cap i8 is turned upon the sleeve IT by the threaded connection therebetween the lead 20 will be extended the required degree without the pencil through the tip ill so that fresh lead is at all times available for exposure through the tip IQ of the pencil for writing the switch and in threaded engagement with this portion is an erasing supporting head 24, the eraser being indicated at and this head operates directly upon the enlarged end 26 of the plunger ll so that by the turning of the head 24 on the portion 23 of the coupling ii in one direction the plunger M will be operated for the closing of the switch and by turning the said head in a reverse direction the spring i6 becomes active upon the plunger it for the opening of the switch. Of course, it is to be understood that the head 24 can be removed from the portion 23 of the coupling l5 and thus the enlarged end 26 can be pressed by a finger of the hand of a user for the closing of the switch to effect the lighting of the pencil by the bulb H. The rays of light pass through the cap l8 for illumination of thetip l8 and. the lead 20 extended through the latter so that the pencil is available for use in writing in darkness.

end oi the barrel for adjustment, a coupling dethe eocketed clamp, an electric illuminating tachably threaded on the other end of the barrel means within the barrel for illuminating the tip and having a sliding switch, a central stationary and controlled by said switch, and a cap threaded socketed clamp interiorly of the barrel next to on the coupling and active upon the switch for I the end carrying the tip, a writing lead for prooperating the same. I

Jection through the tip and releasably held in HOWARD THORNTON.

CERTIFICATE or comznc'non.

Patent no. 2,052,501. -August 25, 1936.

HOWARD THORNTON It is hereby certified that the above numbered patent was erroneously is-' sued to the inventor, whereas said 'patent should have been issued to the inve tor, Howard Thornton and Carl A. Sjoquist, of Cranston Rhode Island, said SJ oqui'st being assignee of one-half inter iienry Van A redale (seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents,

end oi the barrel for adjustment, a coupling dethe eocketed clamp, an electric illuminating tachably threaded on the other end of the barrel means within the barrel for illuminating the tip and having a sliding switch, a central stationary and controlled by said switch, and a cap threaded socketed clamp interiorly of the barrel next to on the coupling and active upon the switch for I the end carrying the tip, a writing lead for prooperating the same. I

Jection through the tip and releasably held in HOWARD THORNTON.

CERTIFICATE or comznc'non.

Patent no. 2,052,501. -August 25, 1936.

HOWARD THORNTON It is hereby certified that the above numbered patent was erroneously is-' sued to the inventor, whereas said 'patent should have been issued to the inve tor, Howard Thornton and Carl A. Sjoquist, of Cranston Rhode Island, said SJ oqui'st being assignee of one-half inter iienry Van A redale (seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents, 

